Troy LaRaviere, who was ousted as principal of Blaine Elementary School in Lakeview, said May 12, 2016, that the administration is "inherently corrupt." His remarks came one day after he attended a closed-door suspension hearing. (WGN-TV / Chicago Tribune)

Troy LaRaviere, who was ousted as principal of Blaine Elementary School in Lakeview, said May 12, 2016, that the administration is "inherently corrupt." His remarks came one day after he attended a closed-door suspension hearing. (WGN-TV / Chicago Tribune)

A former principal's political support for the Chicago Teachers Union and candidates opposed to Mayor Rahm Emanuel — along with insubordination over a controversial standardized test — helped justify his dismissal, the city's school system said.

Documents detailing Troy LaRaviere's alleged misconduct were disclosed Thursday by the ousted Blaine Elementary principal as he used a series of public appearances to blast the mayor and the city's education policies.

LaRaviere said during a news conference inside a Roscoe Village eatery that CPS' efforts to terminate his employment were "politically motivated" and a "false justification" for his removal because he seeks to lead the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association.

LaRaviere, a fiery and outspoken critic of Emanuel who campaigned for the mayor's opposition in the past election, sounded at times Thursday like a prospective candidate for higher office as he railed against corruption and spoke about his personal history and military service.

"When I was a lone voice, the administration tolerated me," LaRaviere said as he also promoted his candidacy to lead the schools administrators group.

"But when faced with the prospect of an organized group of education leaders speaking as one on behalf of our students, they moved with haste and reckless abandon to prevent that from happening."

Asked whether he'd consider a run for mayor, LaRaviere replied: "I have been asked that question every day of my life for the last three years."

"Today, my response is, I'm running for president of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association, and that's the only office I'm concerned with right now."

Troy LaRaviere talks about why he was dismissed from the North Side elementery school where he was principal.

The election process for that post is ongoing; LaRaviere said ballots are due to be mailed in by later this month.

In a brief statement, CPS confirmed LaRaviere disclosed the charges delivered to him in April.

"Those charges set forth the basis for CPS' decision to remove him as a principal," district spokeswoman Emily Bittner said in a statement.

Those dozen "dismissal charges" — signed by CPS CEO Forrest Claypool, chief education officer Janice Jackson and school system attorney Ronald Marmer — summarized a formal censure from the Chicago Board of Education and a written reprimand given to LaRaviere last year. One charge accused LaRaviere of a "material breach" of his principal contract.

The array of alleged violations included LaRaviere's public opposition to the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers exam. LaRaviere's stance has won support from anti-testing advocates, and the school system asserted last year that Blaine led the city's elementary schools in the number of students who refused to take the so-called PARCC test.

CPS also said LaRaviere ignored warnings when he engaged in "political activity" while on the job. The district said LaRaviere "engaged in public actions" to support the CTU's rejection of a proposed labor contract and a one-day strike that CPS has asserted is unlawful.

"As a principal of a Chicago Public School, you owe a duty of loyalty to the (school) board, the CEO and their designees," the district's charges said. LaRaviere's actions, CPS said, were "reckless, critical and insubordinate."

LaRaviere retorted that his job obligated him to advocate for certain public policies.

"Public advocacy doesn't distract us from our professional responsibilities; public advocacy is our professional responsibility," LaRaviere said Thursday. "The best way to protect your rights is to exercise them, so that's what I did."

LaRaviere's role in a campaign ad for Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was being investigated by the CPS inspector general as a possible violation of district policies on political activity. LaRaviere excoriated Emanuel in the 30-second commercial that debuted in March.

LaRaviere also was reprimanded by the district last year after an inspector general probe found he violated CPS' ethical code barring "improper political activity" in his work in support of Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia's bid to unseat Emanuel.

Garcia made a brief appearance at LaRaviere's news conference but left without addressing reporters. Emanuel's spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment, though the mayor's office and CPS have said Emanuel had nothing to do with LaRaviere's removal.

Other charges LaRaviere addressed Thursday included his failing to complete controversial teacher evaluations for Blaine's staff — a move LaRaviere acknowledged but said had resulted only in minor discipline.

"But somehow this year, now that I'm running for president of the principals association and speaking out, the penalty has somehow jumped from a lower evaluation to termination, without any warning or notice," he said.

Another charge, LaRaviere said, was related to an audit of his former Lakeview school's financial account. LaRaviere said the issue was minor, and asserted he'd improved Blaine's bookkeeping.

"While my fiscal record has been one of enhancements and improvements, this administration's record has been one of regression and failure," he said.

Since last month, LaRaviere has been barred from school property while he continues to draw pay and benefits.

LaRaviere also was scheduled to appear alongside a group of elected officials and members of the CTU at a Thursday evening rally.

On Wednesday, LaRaviere faced a private hearing to determine if he could formally be suspended without pay from his post. A school district spokeswoman said a hearing officer had not issued a recommendation on the case, a process that could take several days.

LaRaviere is due for an additional hearing on his dismissal with the Illinois State Board of Education. A final decision on his job status would ultimately fall to the mayor-appointed school board.

A version of this article appeared in print on May 13, 2016, in the News section of the Chicago Tribune with the headline "Ex-principal: Politics cost him his job - Contends CPS fired him for stances on CTU, mayor, test" —
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